St. Landry democrat., 1887-03-26

| Win 1ne. '
would it be happiness'' she sighs
| inpatiently, and then shuts up her large
fan with an angry click. II tell you it
is not to be thought off, she says pres
| entity. Things have gone too far for any
change to be now made. My marriage
with my cousin Grant Boyle is rs much
a fait accompli as if we had stood, he and
l, before my Lord Bishop.
''You can talk very coolly of it, 1t
can't, after all, be SO very displeasing to
profess not to love-" says the young man
beside her, regarding her with atfronted
eyes He rises quickly from his seat and
goes good way from her, leaning against
marble pedestal that stands in one cor
ner
Don't pose" says Miss Grey calmly;
"I'm not photographer. And don't talk
| nonsense either. | am not one Of the
hysterical sort, and can certainly talk
coolly of this marriage that is being
forced upon me. ! have had time to grow
calm over it, you must remember, az we
were betr0thed to each other when I
was almost little baby in white muslin
and blue ribbons. 1t was in white mus
| lin then says she with n little curious
laugh; 'now ought to be in sackclotn
and ashes. feel so bad
"And he>' demands her companion
with an effort.
Wears lis sacrificial wreaths with
quite a jalnty air. | am an heiress, I
would have you remember, my good sir.
Grant Boyle is wise in his own genera
tom
Hes mighty poor lot, to my way Of
thinking says Mr.. Massarcene, in high
disgust Sometimes his Irish breeding
makes breach through his English edr-
cation. Don't mention his name to MT
i can't bear to hear it.
II don't believe it would cause me
much of a pang were l never again TO
hear it myself returns Miss Grey, who,
if candor be virtue, is poss essed of it to
an extraordinary degree.
After this little silence reigns be-
tween them, then:
''Surely you are not mad enough to
think you will be happy with him?'
says Massareene excitedly Hell be
the death of you. Looks like man who
would break woman's heart. After
all, supposing you do quarrel with your
people-what then?'
Then / should not only forfeit their
esteem, which, after all''-with a swift
glance at him from under her long
lashes-"means good deal to me, but
/ should cease to be auntie's heiress, and
have my name struck out of Uncle Timo-
thy's will. All that, my dear Gerald,
would mean that l should be-still
lovely girl, no doubt''-with a rather
constrained laugh-"but as certainly
penniless one.
She lifts her eyes resolutely as she
says this, though it costs her something
to do it, and looks keenly at him. II she
had expected any disappointment, or
blank, or awkwardness on his decidedly
ugly face, she is mistaken. Gerald
Massareene looks, if anything, relieved,
in that now hope seems to have entered
into him.
"My dearest girl, try to face that
thought he says leaving his distant
position, and once more dropping into the
seat near her-much nearer this time
"I'm not a Croesus; but if you could
make up your mind to it, we might be
able to make both ends meet"
You have exactly seven hundred a
year. says Miss Grey, who disdains
subterfuge. II found that out long age
by making inquiries.
Massareene laughs.
j Ou dIo NUTlu d uu20H Vi SOuI ScA
in every way, but especially in one
way" he says-"you never go in for de-
ceit, however harmless, and you seldom
exaggerate it, and-ahem!-therei is al
ways, you know, the chance of the title
when my uncle-Lord Ballymore"-
"Pouf" interrupts Mllicent, con-
temptuously. when you have slain
your uncle, you mean, who is almost az
young as yourself and who is as likely |
as not to have an heir at any moment
''Not at any moment, my dear girl! |
The last-a third girls only a fortnight |
old, and several moments, at all eveuts,
must elapse before the arrival of the |
heir. And if it shouldn't GOMEZ
But Miss Grey declines to listen to any |
such weak imaginings, and Mr. Massa-
reene, little crushed, rather falls out OF
the conversation.
Being a young man, however, of in |
domitable courage, and an unbounded |
supply Of perseverance, he presently re- !
covers himself, and returns to the charge |
IT can see am hateful to you," says |
he
ooh, moi Certainly''-politely-'you
are not that
"You can't endure me-"
II can, indeed, without the slightest |
trouble
"I'm an ugly fellow, know
every one can't be as handsome as
Grant, - demurely.
"Ohl to the devil with Granit'' says
Mr. Massareene, losing his patience.
with all my heart" replies she, |
81 don't believe he cares for you.''
"My dear Gerald! What very rude
speechr'
"Well, can't help IT II thought
even though I worship the |
ground you walk on, would say moth
ing"
''Do you really thirk thats"
stThat he doesn't value you properly? |